Widespread unseasonal showers lashed Gujarat over the past 24 hours, bringing cloudy skies and intermittent rain to several parts of the state. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast that this spell of unseasonal rainfall and thunderstorms will persist across the state until May 9.
According to data from the State Emergency Centre in Gandhinagar, Kapadvanj in Kheda district recorded the highest rainfall at 40 mm (1.57 inches). Close behind were Mansa (Gandhinagar) and Sihor (Bhavnagar), each registering 37 mm (1.46 inches), followed by Jotana (Mehsana) at 31 mm (1.22 inches).
Vadodara city received 30 mm (1.18 inches), while Mehsana and Kadi talukas recorded 28 mm and 27 mm, respectively, matching the total recorded in Bhavnagar city.
Other talukas reporting notable rainfall included Dolvan (26 mm), Nadiad and Khanpur (25 mm each), and Dasada (24 mm). All these areas received around or over an inch of rain, an unusual occurrence for May, typically one of the hottest and driest months in Gujarat.
The showers followed dust storms that swept across parts of the state around 6 p.m. on Monday, ushering in cooler temperatures after a prolonged heatwave, where mercury levels had crossed 42°C. Many described the sudden weather change as reminiscent of the early monsoon.
While Ahmedabad did not feature among the top rain-hit regions, it experienced its first widespread thunderstorm and rain event of the year on Monday.
However, the unseasonal rain has severely impacted agriculture, particularly the mango crop, with Kesar and Alphonso varieties at their crucial fruiting stage. The downpour and accompanying hail have caused fruit drop, skin blemishes, and increased the risk of fungal infections, jeopardizing both the quality and market value of the produce.
Other summer crops like sorghum (jowar) and millet (bajra), sensitive to excess moisture during flowering and grain formation, are also at risk of yield loss and disease.
Sesame (til), another key summer crop, is particularly vulnerable to hail damage and waterlogging, which can result in discoloration, fungal infections, and in severe cases, total crop failure.
(With IANS inputs)
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